FWD or AWD?

172706 Views 147 Replies 51 Participants Last post by Copperhead, Apr 27, 2019

gmguy74

Discussion Starter · Dec 2, 2009

So, did you go with the Front Wheel Drive (FWD) model, or did you upgrade to the All Wheel Drive (AWD) one? I'm curious to see which model is selling better.

*If you ordered recently or waiting for delivery, please vote!

**If you're thinking about ordering/buying/leasing a Terrain and know which one you're getting, please vote!

I'm not sure which model I'd go for. Instinctively, I want AWD for the added safety, but I live in southern NJ and we don't see that much snow to concern me (though it's nice to have the safety of AWD, do I really want to pay in fuel mileage for something not needed as much - yes I know, AWD helps out in rain too). My mom hates driving in snow/rain and her '05 Saturn VUE has AWD; friends have a '02 VUE I-4 FWD and love it, but the wife wants AWD in her next CUV for the "added safety".

41 - 60 of 148 Posts

Medpilot

· #41 · Jul 9, 2011

NoobNox said:
AWD isn't going to make any difference as far as torque steer goes...these are FWD vehicles no matter what setup you go with. I have the I4 so I can't comment on the V6 torque steer....but there is some you can feel if you accelerate sharply around a corner. Most of the time it isn't an issue however, and much better than FWD cars of the 80's-early 90's.

Wow, so if you can feel TS in your I4, I bet it's a lot more pronounced in the V6 models.

I test drove a 2006 Nissan Maxima that had a vicious amount of TS. Felt like the steering wheel was going to spin right out of my hands.

I'm surprised to read that AWD wouldn't counter any torque steer in these vehicles. I've owned two cars (Eagle Talon TSi/3000GT VR4) with AWD and had zero torque steer. Granted these vehicles were sports cars, not CUV's. None the less, they had a full time AWD system.

NoobNox

· #42 · Jul 9, 2011

Medpilot said:
Wow, so if you can feel TS in your I4, I bet it's a lot more pronounced in the V6 models.

I test drove a 2006 Nissan Maxima that had a vicious amount of TS. Felt like the steering wheel was going to spin right out of my hands.

I'm surprised to read that AWD wouldn't counter any torque steer in these vehicles. I've owned two cars (Eagle Talon TSi/3000GT VR4) with AWD and had zero torque steer. Granted these vehicles were sports cars, not CUV's. None the less, they had a full time AWD system.

You answered your own question, the AWD in these types of vehicles isn't an Audi Quattro type setup and doesn't really help in the dry handling department. The torque steer on my Nox really isn't bad (better than the 04 Mazda 6 that I used to have) and most people wouldn't even notice it in normal driving.

Terrain

· #43 · Jul 10, 2011

No, no torque steer in the V6 FWD... Doesn't have enough torque!

grometsc

· #44 · Jul 10, 2011

Terrain said:
No, no torque steer in the V6 FWD... Doesn't have enough torque!

Depends on how he defines torque steer....coming from a car that did 322 fwhp/390 fwtq....Neither has any torque steer (I drive both V6 and I4 daily)

Terrain

· #45 · Jul 12, 2011

grometsc said:
Depends on how he defines torque steer....coming from a car that did 322 fwhp/390 fwtq....Neither has any torque steer (I drive both V6 and I4 daily)

Ewww a front driver with that much power? Why not go rwd if you're going that high perf?

Was it an Impala SS? Those had a great big truck engine in FWD format.

RIT333

· #46 · Jul 12, 2011

Terrain said:
Ewww a front driver with that much power? Why not go rwd if you're going that high perf?

Was it an Impala SS? Those had a great big truck engine in FWD format.

FYI - Any Impala SS with a truck engine was RWD.

grometsc

· #47 · Jul 12, 2011

Terrain said:
Ewww a front driver with that much power? Why not go rwd if you're going that high perf?

Was it an Impala SS? Those had a great big truck engine in FWD format.

Nope...all from a 2 liter....LNF

It handled the power far better then you think...

Terrain

· #48 · Jul 13, 2011

RIT333 said:
FYI - Any Impala SS with a truck engine was RWD.

The late model Impala SS had the 5.3L truck engine I believe. Great big by today's truck standards.

Don B

· #49 · Jul 13, 2011

If I can't make with FWD and traction control I guess I just won't go. I'm not saying that AWD won't go places a FWD won't go, but I went through the blizzard they had a couple of years ago in Missouri with my Impala and there was a couple of times I pushed snow with the front bumper. One thing that makes a big difference is tires. My wife's Vibe had Goodyear RSA tires on it and it would get stuck on a wet street. I finally replaced them with Cooper CS4 touring tires and it was like a completely different car. I also had great traction with Goodyear Comfort Treads on my Impala.

NoobNox

· #50 · Jul 13, 2011

Don B said:
If I can't make with FWD and traction control I guess I just won't go. I'm not saying that AWD won't go places a FWD won't go, but I went through the blizzard they had a couple of years ago in Missouri with my Impala and there was a couple of times I pushed snow with the front bumper. One thing that makes a big difference is tires. My wife's Vibe had Goodyear RSA tires on it and it would get stuck on a wet street. I finally replaced them with Cooper CS4 touring tires and it was like a completely different car. I also had great traction with Goodyear Comfort Treads on my Impala.

We got around 3 inches of snow mixed with sleet/ice the first week I had my Nox, and I was amazed at how much better it behaved versus my Mazda 6 even though both are FWD. The traction control combined with Stabilitrac and ABS work wonders for keeping control. You'll still feel the slipping a bit, but it's very easy to maintain control. I'll bet that if I put winter tires on my Nox (not really needed where I live) it would be nearly unstoppable for any conditions I might face during the winter.

TNT

· #51 · Aug 23, 2011

In Wyoming AWD/V6. :thumb: :thumb:

ptco911

· #52 · Oct 2, 2011

Daughter in law has an 06 AWD Nox that my wife drives quite a bit. She likes the traction in the snow. We ordered a 2012 AWD Nox.

Kevinch

· #53 · Feb 13, 2012

I guess I'll open up an old thread! :facepalm:

We went with AWD; we knew that before we ever walked onto the dealer's lot. After we both have been driving AWD Subarus for the past 16 years, there was no way we wanted to go with FWD.

I work with someone who drives a FWD Saturn Vue. He loves it; says he has never been stuck & really sees no need for AWD. I've heard others same the same thing; that the newer crossover SUVs with their wide tracks & Traction Control do fine without AWD. That may be true or not, I can't argue. I can say having AWD for all those years; not ever worrying about what it might be doing outside when we wanted or needed to get somewhere spoiled us!

Since we traded-in both aging Subaus on the Terrain, our former 3rd vehicle - a 2000 FWD Nissan Sentra - is now my daily driver (my wife drives the GMC). We've had a mild winter here in NE Ohio & I have had no issues due to not having AWD - yet. I will say that I'm much more interested in the daily weather forecast to see if snow is coming!

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truckweb

· #54 · Feb 17, 2012

2012 - I4/FWD and loving it. The I4 has more power and is more fun to drive in FWD. I save on gas.

We do get some snow here, but coming from a line of FWD cars, I believe I can handle a Terrain in FWD too.

wrusprod

· #55 · Feb 17, 2012

ALot of folks have been happy with the FWD.. I havent heard any complaints..

I had a 2006 HHR FWD, and it was horrible in the snow! I live in metro Detroit, I drive around all day long...I didnt want to get another car that couldnt handle the snow.

SO I went AWD.. Im like you, I cant wait for the big snow. I had alot of fun last year driving in the snow. It handles great!!...I havent had a chance to do it this year too, very mild winter.

NODES

· #56 · Mar 4, 2012

Oh yeah the 2006 Maxima had brutal TS...wow I forgot about that car....

Terrain2011

· #57 · Mar 4, 2012

Kevinch said:
I guess I'll open up an old thread! :facepalm:

We went with AWD; we knew that before we ever walked onto the dealer's lot. After we both have been driving AWD Subarus for the past 16 years, there was no way we wanted to go with FWD.

I

Is the Subie AWD full time or on demand like the Terrain

NODES

· #58 · Mar 10, 2012

wow almost 50/50 in the poll.

hyperv6

· #59 · Mar 11, 2012

Well I just bought a 2012 Terrain SLT-2 2WD and I just pushed the FWD over 50%.

To be honest we live here in the Lake Effect Snow belt of Lake Erie and Huron and normally we see a lot of snow. But the fact is with a good set of all season tires, the electronic aides and a good basic set of skills there is no real need for AWD unless you have a very long drive way or live way out in the middle of no where.

I drive a HHR SS every say with a set of Goodyear Triple Treds and the thing is like a tank. I have even pushed snow with the front bumper coming up the street. In fact with the stability aides the car is no were near as fun to drive as my old Sonoma where I could dirt track it all over the place with the lSD.

So if you live way out or just do not have good snow driving skills the AWD is fine but for My wife and I the FWD was money in the bank and one more MPG than we would have gotten.

The bottom line is here in the north most people can drive with out it and some just can't. Lets face it we got around for years with no electronics and poor tires in the past with little issue.

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SonoGal12

· #60 · Jul 1, 2012

Went AWD... We live in a (typically) heavy snow/ice area and we recently moved out to the country where drifts can get HUGE and even if a road gets cleared, it's covered again right after the plow leaves.

I wasn't bothered by the price tag or the drop in mpg, so I figured better to have it then need it and not have it.

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